Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
(OP)
I am located in the state of Nebraska. Nebraska has a Structural Engineering Title Act. This means: When a person passes the SE 1 Exam he is given the title "Professional Civil Engineer". At this time he can stamp all structural work in the state. If a person chooses to take the SE 2 Exam and passes. He is given the title "Structural Engineer."
A couple of days ago a lunch meeting the director of the Board of Engineers & Architects stated that a code official chooses to he can require a Structural Engineer to stamp specific work. That is he can reject work stamped by a PE if he thinks that it is necessary to have an SE do that work.
Has anyone experienced a similar situation where a state has a title act, but it can be enforced as a practice act by code officials? Or in some other way?
I will say that after the questions at the meeting the board is discussing this specific issue to clarify the uncertainty.
A couple of days ago a lunch meeting the director of the Board of Engineers & Architects stated that a code official chooses to he can require a Structural Engineer to stamp specific work. That is he can reject work stamped by a PE if he thinks that it is necessary to have an SE do that work.
Has anyone experienced a similar situation where a state has a title act, but it can be enforced as a practice act by code officials? Or in some other way?
I will say that after the questions at the meeting the board is discussing this specific issue to clarify the uncertainty.






RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
The practice act restricts unlicensed individuals from practicing a particular profession. For example, unlicensed individual can not practice civil engineering except under a direct responsible charge of a licensed civil engineer.
The state should have a list of design authority limiting the extent of practice for each profession. For example, civil engineer may design builings up to 150 ft.
An individual, say one building official or one plan checker, does not and should not determine whether a specific work shall be stamped by an SE and not CE. It should be determined based on the state's regulations. Regulations vary from state to state.
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
Makes sense to me.
As always - our Code of Ethics says you should not take on a project that you are not qualified to do by virtue of experience or training.
In Missouri - I can call myself a Structural Engineer but I limit myself to 2 or 3 stories residential, light commercial or industrial - no hospitals, etc.
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
I understand you are limiting your work due to ability, etc. But people live in 2-3 story houses and work in light commercial and industrial. You make it sound like you have no confidence in your design. I hope that's not the case.
RC
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
No - that is not the case. And yes people are NUMBER 1. I feel comfortable in those areas with about 30 years experience and have no desire nor time to get into larger designs - which often take months or years before completion and hundreds of changes. Apprently in my area - many engineers ONLY want the bigger projects - so these smaller ones take little time and pay WELL with very low liability. When was the last time you heard of a new three story house or two story retail shop falling down????
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
I agree with your assessment. It sounds like the engineer needs to know what they are qualified to design and/or a specific set of rules about what a PE can/can't stamp (similar to what California has) as opposed to leaving it up to the discretion of the building code official/plan reviewer with no clear guidance as noted in the OP.
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
2008 Professional Engineers Act is lengthy and it is not easy to get to the precise information you need...
But check out the Building Design Authority for who can design what. In my opinion, it is yet too general and should be elaborated.
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
If this is true, then why the "Structural Engineer" classification in Nebraska? It seems pointless.
Similar to what Miketheengineer stated for Missouri, in Washington a Civil can only design for two to three stories. That limitation creates a need for the structural designation. With no limitation, the structural classification is rendered pointless.
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
Chartered Structural Engineer by thr Institution of Structural Engineers and a
Chartered Civil Engineer with the Institute of Civil Engineers
i.e. BSc(Hons) MEng PhD CEng M.ICE M.IStructE
I'am also a member of the american society of civil engineers (affiliate)
What is the equivalent title in the states?
R. Murphy
MICE MIStructE MASCE
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
The board has said they will review this issue at the next board meeting.
RE: Structural Engineering Title vs. Practice Act
Let me start off by saying I am a PE (mechanical) in Missouri, so I have only some idea of what distinguishes a CE with a PE and a CE with an SE.
I agree with your assessment of the situation; such decisions cannot be left to the capricious decisions of any code official. If the SE requirement is in the code, then you have to do it. But if it isn't in the code, and the code has no provision for 'judgement' then I think the code official is off the mark.
I suggest contacting your elected representatives (state wide) about it; sounds like the code official is overstepping his/her boundaries of responsibility or authority.